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Tantalising Taipei

A sensory extravaganza of bustling streets, bright lights and strong smells, Taipei packs an overwhelming punch that hammers you in the eyes, mouth, ears and nose all at once. It’s like an urban version of ‘Fight Club’ – to experience it is to feel alive.

The architecture is generally haphazard and the signage confusing, but that’s the beauty of Taiwan’s capital and one of its most underrated tourist destinations – you never know what you’re going to get next.

Once you’ve learnt to embrace the bright neon lights and the often overpowering smell of fermented bean curd, you’ll find that Taipei is exciting and vibrant. In Ximending and Shida, Taipei’s traditional Chinese heritage is blending at light-speed with a bright (literally), Japanese-influenced youth culture. With 24 hour bars aplenty and the famed Shilin Night Market to explore, being bored simply isn’t an option.

The hyper-modern Xinyi district is all about ritzy modern mall shopping. But just beyond the rather soulless air-conditioned high rises sit Yangmingshan and Chiufen with their hot springs and ancient temples. There, you can recharge, think deep and meaningful thoughts and prepare for another night of supercharged mayhem back in the heart of Taipei’s hustle and bustle.

Top 10 Attractions in New Taipei City

New Taipei, the most populous metropolitan area in Taiwan, is home to a diverse selection of tourist hot spots – museums, night markets, old town landmarks and streets, and a phenomenal stretch of coastline. Our top 10 for New Taipei captures the essence of the city.

Taipei’s Top 10

10. Taipei City Mall Underground mall where Taipei’s hipsters head to shake their tail feathers, booties and anything else in the associated club.

5. Yangmingshan National Park Vistas, vegetation and a (extinct) volcano – the perfect antidote to the commotion of Taipei city.

9. Beitou Hot Springs Park and Museum A cheap escape from the bustle of the city, but not recommended if you can’t stand the strong smell of sulphur.

4. Taipei 101 This ultra-modern take on the Chinese pagoda is one of the world’s tallest buildings, and sticks out like a swollen yet very elegant sore thumb.

8. Long Shan Temple The ‘meeting place of the Gods” is a cornucopia of culture, elaborateness and incense.

Cycle or jog along the well-maintained path near the Tam Sui MRT station.

Join the fans in the Tianmu Baseball Stadium.

Watch taekwondo competitions at the Taipei City Cup in mid-August.

Cheer on rowers at the Dragon Boat Festival each Lunar New Year.

See a tennis or judo match at the Taipei Arena.

Taipei Local

Once you’re in the heart of Taipei, don’t expect to leave. Incomprehensible signage and maze-like streets will keep you there forever. Well, OK, that’s a slight exaggeration. Armed with a map and some commonsense, you should be able to find your way to the culturally diverse outer suburbs….

Wanhua

Made famous by the Taiwanese gangster film Monga, Wanhua is a one of Taipei’s shadiest neighbourhoods. Don’t be shocked to see a drunken cabbie puking next to his car, or a prostitute burning incense in front of a temple. But it’s also the home of many iconic buildings and heritage sites, including the Long Shan Temple, Taipei’s oldest temple, or the Red House Theatre, the original Taiwan teahouse and playhouse. Ximending in the north is younger and trendier, with an unmistakable Japanese influence from architecture to vibrant hairstyles to holding up two fingers in photographs.

Xinyi

Taipei’s premiere shopping spot, ritzy Xinyi is dominated by Taipei 101. The tallest building in the world until those pesky people in Dubai stepped up, it’s over 500 metres tall and features a massive internal mall. Don’t head there expecting to learn the basics about Taipei, though. The name is derived from the number of floors.

Vertigo-sufferers and credit card-torturers should visit high-end department stores Shin Kong Mitsukoshi and New York New York. The latter also tells you all you need to know about the dining options in this district: generic, American and best avoided. However, if you can find your way out of the maze of malls, the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall is worth a visit for an insight into Taiwan’s troubled history.

Shilin

Best known for the huge and chaotic Shilin Night Market, there’s much more to the district than haggled-down sacks of frogs’ legs – no matter how delicious you find them. Overlooked by hiking hotspot Yang Ming Mountain, Shilin is a chillin’ place for university students, with bars and cheap eateries catering to the youngsters (and visitors who can stand the thought of students spouting pseudo-philosophical nonsense in a foreign language). Cultural highlights include the Chinese Culture and Movie Center and the pride of Taiwan, the enormous National Palace Museum.

To many visitors, Zhongshan is a recreational paradise, a haven for anyone seeking an inner-city escape. To others, though, the charms of Rongxing Garden, Xisheng Park, Zhongshan Fine Arts Park and the Dajia Riverside Park pale in comparison with the underground Zhongshan Metro Shopping Mall or the many pubs and bars in the district. It’s a tough choice.

Shida

Once a not-so-hotspot of mom-and-pop vendors, Shida has seen an upsurge of cool over the recent years – thanks in part to its proximity to the National Taiwan Normal University (not to be confused with the National Taiwan University). The Shida night market is smaller than its Shilin counterpart and dining is more tourist-friendly – especially after a late and alcohol-fuelled night. Try the chicken leg rice at Precious Taste and the DIY grease fix at any of the carts lining Shida Road Lane 39 – simply load up a container and hand it to the cook for deep-fried perfection.

Taipei Eat & Drink

An unfortunate side-effect of Taiwan’s Western focus is that many people in Taipei – residents and visitors alike – roam the streets with steaming polystyrene plates and takeaway containers full of either Western fast food or cheap and stinky fermented bean curd. The markets are a great snack choice, but Taipei has some of the best and most diverse food in Asia, so don’t miss it.

Azie The ceiling is three floors high – and the food equally well presented.

Shinyeh 101 Go up a level – or 85 levels, to be precise – for dining that literally hits the heights.

Taipei Events

A time of family reunion and fanatical celebration, the Taipei Lunar New Year Festival in January/February is an excuse for several days of unadulterated revelry. It’s followed by the six-day Lantern Festival. If you’ve never seen tens of thousands of colourful lanterns mark lit up, it’s quite a site.

The patron saint of fishermen is celebrated at Taipei’s Matsu Cultural Festival each April. But even if fishing leaves you bored stupid, the elaborate rites and festive frolics are worth seeing.

April also brings the cherry blossom-laden Yangmingshan Flower Festival, when locals celebrate the beginning of spring.

The city is a winter wonderland during October’s Taipei Hot Spring Season. Actually, ‘winter wonderland’ is a bit of an exaggeration, but the relative lack of humidity does make it the perfect time to visit the city’s surrounding mountains.

Hotels in Taipei

163 hotels in Taipei, TW

Chic and contemporary, Hotel Eight Zone makes for an ideal urban retreat for business and leisure travellers while in the Taiwan capital. Tourists at this Taipei hotel find convenient distance to... More

Taipei Garden Hotel is a luxurious urban base with plush accommodations and modern facilities set close to the business and commercial districts. Aside from splurging on fashionable items at the... More

Experience the comfortable accommodation blended with a warm hospitality and unsurpassed service at the Caesar Park Hotel Taipei. GeneralFor organising conference, business requirements, purely... More

Offering chic value-for-money accommodations in the heart of the city, Beauty Hotels Taipei - Hsuanmei Boutique makes for a fitting base for discerning travellers visiting the capital of Taiwan.... More

Boasting understated elegance and plush accommodations, The Sherwood Taipei makes for an ideal base for discerning business and leisure travellers while in Taipei. This luxury hotel places visitors... More

The Okura Prestige Taipei welcomes guests to plush accommodations in a central location in Taipei. This luxury hotel in Taipei places patrons can explore the iconic Chiang Kai-shek Memorial and... More

Ambience Hotel Taipei welcomes business and leisure travellers with bright and spacious accommodations ideally set close to city attractions and business district in the Taiwan capital. While in... More

Prices reflect the lowest "base rate" found over the next 30 days. Rates are subject to change and may not include taxes and fees, hotel service charges, extra person charges, or incidentals, such as room service. Converted rates are provided for your convenience. They are based on today's exchange rate, but the hotel will charge you in the local currency. Taxes may be payable in addition.